Much of my time over the last week (and the last two years) has been devoted to planning for the offering of senior secondary classes at three of our Colleges. One of the key questions we have been discussing as a Catholic system is how should Religious Education be offered for students this age.

I am convinced that developmentally, our students who are aged 14 or 15 and older are questioning as they come to make sense of their own identity.

Parents of adolescents this age will have noticed that parenting becomes, at times, very challenging as teenagers want to argue about all sorts of things. In a few months, I will be a parent of four teenagers, it is often hard work!

Coming back to Religious Education, one of the foundations we are working from is some of the key questions of being human such as Who am I? Who is God? and How should I live? My colleague Principal Beth Gilligan, Principal at Dominic College suggested the additional question of What makes me happy? I think this is a very good question for all of us.

 
I recently finished reading a book on how happiness has been understood over the centuries. For the ancient Greeks, happiness was all about reaching one’s potential and living virtuously. This ethic of duty prevailed in the generations born around the first half of the last century. Individuals usually often stayed in the same job for 40 years, even if it wasn’t a particularly good job. They usually stayed married or stayed in religious orders for the distance.

 
Things have changed significantly since the 1960s with the rise of individualism. Happiness has become mostly about the individual pursuit of pleasure. I am not sure it is working.  Rates of anxiety and depression, especially amongst teenagers are alarmingly bad. The Gospels also give a recipe for happiness, with the Beatitudes. The emphasis includes being humble, merciful, pure in heart and working for peace. I think that seeking pleasure and feeling good is necessary, as well as having the goal of supporting the wellbeing of others, especially those most in need.

 
My hope is that Religious Education for senior students at St Aloysius will be a mix of classroom formation, service in the community and reflection. Somehow when we look out for and support the needs of others, our own happiness is increased.

Staffing News

Mrs Venita Holland has joined the staff in the role of Acting Finance and Human Resources Coordinator, replacing Mary Macrae in this role in a limited tenure capacity. Venita is an experienced Human Resources and payroll specialist having worked across private and government organisations. 

Mr Daniel Prichard has been appointed as Teacher Assistant. Daniel will be based at the Middle Campus, acting in a limited tenure: leave replacement position until the conclusion of the 2021 school year. Daniel will take on this role in addition to his Parish Associate position at the College. Daniel is an Honours graduate of the University of Tasmania, Guilford Young College Captain, St Aloysius College Alumni, College Leader and an active member of the Kingborough-Channel Parish and local community.

 
Parents and Friends 2021 Launch

Hopefully, you already know that our P&F will be relaunched this Thursday evening, 11th March at 7:00 pm in the Sisters of Charity Centre at our Junior (Kingston) Campus. There has been a small group of dedicated parents who have helped with the planning for this event. With their advice, the agenda has been put together. There will be drinks and nibbles, to begin with. Then I will give an introduction of myself, our Deputy Principals and other staff present, my background, an outline of the Vision for the College moving forward, some of the more recent initiatives taking place and the direction of the P&F moving forward.

The first meeting of the P&F will take place on 25th March, 7:00 pm, where we will look at priorities and possibly elect office bearers. All welcome to both events.

Extended absence

Occasionally a student will have an extended absence due to a reason such as a family holiday. The requirements of the Education Act are that, in these circumstances, the family need to write to the Principal seeking permission for the absence. On receipt of the letter (or email), I will write back to you to confirm the absence has been permitted and advise relevant staff.